Methods and apparatus for obtaining a snapshot of a medical imaging display

ABSTRACT

A method comprising, responsive to a selecting event, rendering an interactive display screen of a saved first state of a display layout of a medical information compilation, the interactive display screen comprising first information in a first display area and second information in a second display area, the saved first state comprising a plurality of display attributes of the first information and the second information, wherein the first information and the second information each include one of (i) a medical image, (ii) medical notes, or (iii) a medical record is described.

PRIORITY

The present patent application is a divisional of and incorporates byreference the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/736,550, titled,“METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING A SNAPSHOT OF A MEDICAL IMAGINGDISPLAY” filed on Jun. 11, 2015.

FIELD

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to improving the display of medicalimages and information relevant to one or more of the displayed medicalimages. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate togenerating a snapshot of one or more states of a display of medicalimages and the information relevant to the displayed medical images.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Current medical imaging technology includes the use of medical imagessuch as, among others, x-rays, mammograms, computerized tomography (CT)scans, magnetic resonance images (MRIs), positron emission tomography(PET) scans and ultrasound images. Some medical facilities, such asdoctors' offices, dentists' offices, hospitals, etc., may use x-rayilluminators to view physical printouts of medical images. However,medical facilities are beginning to adopt electronic displays fordisplaying medical images.

As medical facilities adopt electronic displays, medical personnel, suchas doctors, nurses or medical technicians, have difficulty accessing aplurality of pieces of medical information at once. Previously, withx-ray illuminators, for example, a plurality of physical x-ray imagefilms may be hung against a backlit screen of an x-ray illuminator.Additionally, medical personnel had the ability to hang other relevantmedical information, such as medical records, charts, surgeryprocedures, etc., in a side-by-side manner with one or more x-rays.

Upon adopting electronic displays to display medical information,medical personnel are required to open a separate display screen foreach piece of medical information. This requires the medical personnelexplaining the medical information to continually switch amongst theopen windows, which is often clumsy and confusing for the medicalpersonnel as well as for the viewer. For example, a doctor may beexplaining an injury using a plurality of x-rays to a patient. Byswitching between the plurality of open windows, one for each x-ray, itis foreseeable that the doctor and patient may become confused, or thepatient might not fully understand the injury and the potentialtreatment options as a result.

However, one advantage of switching to electronic displays is thatadjusting viewing properties for one or more medical images has becomeeasier (e.g., attributes of the one more medical images). For example,adjusting the brightness level of an image on a computer for display onthe display screen is easier and more convenient than adjusting thelight source of an x-ray illuminator. However, when medical personneladjusts one or more viewing properties (e.g., zoom level, brightnesslevel, contrast level, etc.) of one or more medical images in order todraw a conclusion on the injury and/or treatment required, the medicalpersonnel is required to recall the adjustments the next time the one ormore medical images are displayed. For example, when a doctor increasesa zoom level and then increases a contrast level on an x-ray in order todetermine, for example, that a fracture is present in the ulna of thepatient's left hand, the doctor will have to recall the amount ofincrease in the zoom level and contrast level when illustrating thefracture to the patient or to a surgeon. Additionally, the doctor mayalso have to recall the arrangement of a second medical image (or othermedical information) that was used in drawing a conclusion regarding thefracture and/or possible treatment options. In some instances, aparticular viewing arrangement, e.g., a side-by-side comparison of twomedical images having different perspectives of an injury wherein one ormore of the medical images have had viewing properties adjusted, may becritical in seeing the injury.

Furthermore, relaying information as to how to adjust the viewingproperties and a particular arrangement of medical information tomedical personnel located remotely from the medical personnel creatingthe arrangement is very difficult. For example, if a doctor inCalifornia is examining a patient with severe head trauma and would likea second opinion of the diagnosis from the foremost expert in headtrauma, who happens to be at a hospital in France, it would be verydifficult, currently, for the doctor in California to relay informationas to how the medical information (images, notes, medical records, etc.)should be arranged and how the viewing properties of one or more of themedical images should be adjusted.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method of generating adisplay screen that enabled a doctor to save the state of an arrangementof a plurality of pieces of medical information, including thepreservation of any adjusted viewing properties, such that the savedstate may be easily recalled in the future.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could bepursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previouslyconceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it shouldnot be assumed that any of the approaches described in this sectionqualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in thissection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure may best be understood by referring to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrateembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a first exemplary embodiment of a plurality of userinteractive display screens.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a display screen that illustrates aplurality of display areas, each containing information pertaining to aparticular patient.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary display layout template selection screen thatlists potential display layout templates that are selectable by a userfor snapshot generation.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary display screen that illustrates a worklistsdisplay area, a collections display area and a listing of studies withina collection.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a logical representation of asnapshot generation and display system that generates and renders thedisplays of FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example process of generating a snapshothaving a first state and a second state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to saving the state of oneor more user interface screens displaying medical images, and,optionally, information related to one or more of the displayed medicalimages. One embodiment of a user interface display screen may include apredefined layout comprising one or more medical images, one or moredisplay areas including information pertaining to one or more of themedical images and one or more display areas including informationpertaining to a subject of one or more of the medical images (e.g., apatient).

The disclosure is directed to enabling a user (e.g., a medicaltechnician, a nurse and/or a doctor) to select a predefined displaylayout including a plurality of display areas that divide the layout.Each of the plurality of display areas may include data relevant to adoctor's diagnosis or review of a patient. Alternatively, the dataincluded in the layout may be arranged such that a user may present thedata in an organized manner or share the data in the same organizedmanner with others remotely. Specifically, by enabling a user to savethe state of a layout, including the state of each adjusted medicalimage, the user may quickly recall a particular state of interest thatis important to a diagnosis, presentation or is particularly unique.Herein, the term “adjusted image” may refer to a medical image that hashad one or more viewing properties altered. Examples of viewingproperties may include, but are not limited or restricted to, a zoomlevel, a brightness level, a contrast level, color settings, apositioning of the image, a rotation of the image, etc.

In one embodiment, several x-rays may be taken of a particular patientfrom a plurality of angles. A doctor may come to a conclusion as to aninjury of the patient and the appropriate procedure to address theinjury based on a comparison of two or more x-ray images and theprevious medical history of the patient. Therefore, it is desirable forthe doctor to be able to save the state of the layout, e.g., the exactlayout comparing the two or more x-ray images and the previous medicalhistory, so as to be able to return to the exact layout when discussingthe injury or the appropriate procedure with the patient and/or medicalstaff. Herein, the term “snapshot” may be referred to as a grouping ofone or more saved states of a particular layout.

Additionally, a snapshot may be added to a collection or a worklist, aswill be discussed below, such that a plurality of snapshots may begrouped together for easy access and viewing. In other embodiments ofthe disclosure, a snapshot, a collection or a worklist may be sharedwith others remotely, for example, over a network. For example, a doctormay create a layout and a snapshot may be generated such that thesnapshot may be provided to a specialist working at a separate hospital.The specialist may open the snapshot and be presented with the exactlayout, including any adjusted images and notes, the doctor who had thesnapshot generated. This prevents the specialist from having to manuallyadjust one or more images or pull up a plurality of screens in order toview the data set including one or more medical images, informationrelevant to one or more of the medical images and/or informationrelevant to one or more subjects of one or more of the medical images.

Herein, the term “study” refers broadly to a compilation of medicalinformation that may include a single medical image, a medical record ora set of medical notes, or may include one or more of a medical image, amedical record or a set of medical notes set forth in a design layout(e.g., a template). Additionally, one or more states of the designlayout, including the content imported therein and any adjustments madeto one or more display attributes, may be saved, wherein the grouping ofone or more saved states may be referred to as a snapshot. For example,a first saved state may include a first medical image having a defaultbrightness setting and a second saved state may include the firstmedical image having an adjusted brightness setting. Each of the one ormore saved states may include an adjustment to one or more displayattributes of the content of one or more of the display areas. As statedabove, the grouping of the one or more saved states of the design layoutmay be referred to as a snapshot of the design layout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of a plurality of userinteractive display screens is shown. The display 100 includes aplurality of display screens 110, 120 and 130. FIG. 1 illustrates oneembodiment of how a user (e.g., a doctor, a medical technician or anurse) simultaneously views a plurality of medical images and notesrelevant to one or more of the medical images or of the subject of oneor more of the medical images. The display screen 110 shows a homescreen comprising a listing of one or more worklists, one or morecollections and one or more studies. The display screen 120 shows amedical image, specifically an x-ray of a chest. Finally, the displayscreen 130 illustrates a text box for adding notes pertaining to thepatient (e.g., “Patient 30”) or reviewing previously recording notes.

After reviewing at least the display screens 120 and 130, a user mayexit the viewing application (e.g., to take a break, examine anotherpatient, etc.) but may wish to return to the viewing state just prior toexiting the viewing application, or to a particular state of interest.Without implementing the snapshot feature as discussed in thisdisclosure, the user would be required to open multiple display screens(e.g., the display screens 120 and 130) and adjust the medical image ofthe display screen 120, if applicable. The user may not be able torecall the steps required to obtain the viewing state just prior topreviously exiting, or to obtain the particular state of interest.Therefore, creating a layout with the desired medical images and/ornotes and having a snapshot generated would allow the user to quicklyrecall the state just prior to previously exiting, or recall theparticular state of interest.

I. Generation of a Snapshot

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of a display screenthat illustrates a plurality of display areas, each containinginformation pertaining to a particular patient is shown. Herein,rendered by display control logic, discussed below, the display screen200 includes a user interactive display screen 210, a history displayarea 220 and a plurality of icons 230-240 indicating a plurality ofactions that may be taken by the viewer. In this embodiment, the userinteractive display screen 210 includes four display areas: a notesdisplay area 211, a first medical image 212, a report display area 213and a second medical image 214. The four display areas 211-214 are setforth in a predefined layout selected by a user. As will be discussedbelow in accordance with FIG. 3, other layouts may exist other than thelayout illustrated in the user interactive display screen 210.

As is seen in the user interactive display screen 210 of FIG. 2, a notesdisplay area 211 may include information relevant to a particularpatient, e.g., “Patient 30.” The notes display area 211 includes aplurality of examples of patient information that may be included in thenotes display area 211 but in other embodiments, more or lessinformation may be included therein. The medical image 212 illustratesone example of a medical image that may be included in a userinteractive display screen. The medical image 212 illustrates a firstx-ray. As is seen, the medical image 212 may include markings toidentify characteristics of the state in which the x-ray was taken(e.g., a brightness level, a zoom level and/or a time). Alternatively,the markings may be used to refer to the adjustment of the medical image212 once the medical image 212 is placed in a display area of thelayout.

The record display area 213 may include information of the subject ofthe medical images 212 and 214. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the recorddisplay area 213 includes information of the Patient 30, in accordancewith the notes display area 211, to provide the viewer one or morepieces of information regarding the subject's age, sex, areas of priormedical issues, etc. As one skilled in the art would recognize, othermedical attributes may be provided in the records display areas 213 thanjust those illustrated herein. The medical image 214 may provide asecond perspective of the subject of the subject of the medical image212. In one embodiment, the medical image 212 may illustrate an x-rayfocused on the patient's chest in order to determine whether a lung hasbeen punctured or a rib has been fractured. The medical image 214 mayoffer the viewer a second perspective of the patient, illustrating anobject piercing the patient's body.

In other embodiments, any combination of medical images may be placedwithin one or more display areas of the layout. For example, a pluralityof medical images of a single patient may be placed side by side,similar to the embodiment portrayed as user interactive display screen210. Alternatively, one or more medical images of a patient'sprogression from an initial medical image of an injury to a healed stateincluding several medical images taken periodically during recovery.This progression may enable doctors to adequately monitor a patient'srecovery. Alternatively, a doctor may want to compare a plurality ofmedical images of a similar perspective of multiple patients.

The history display area 220 of the display screen 200 may include oneor more snapshots that have previously been viewed. For example, thesnapshot 221 and the snapshot 222 are illustrative examples of snapshotsthat may have been viewed previously. Additionally, an icon placed onthe snapshot 221 or 222 may be used to indicate the number of statesincluded within the snapshot 221 or 222. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, anumerical icon placed on the snapshot 221 indicates there are ninestates within the snapshot 221, similarly an icon indicates there arefour states within the snapshot 222. The history display area 200 mayalso include a “Bookmarks” option 223. The bookmarks option 223 maystore links to snapshots, or particular states thereof, for quickaccess.

The display screen 200 may also include a plurality of icons that aviewer may utilize to invoke various functionalities. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2, the icon 230 may represent access to a recordsdatabase so that a patient's records may be imported into the layout.The icon 231 may represent access to a notes database so that apreviously taken note may be imported into the layout. The icon 231 mayalso include the functionality of enabling the viewer (e.g., creator ofthe layout or viewer) to import a new note into the layout. The icon 232may represent access to an images database enabling a viewer to importone or more medical images into the layout. The icon 233 may representaccess to a database storing one or more templates of layouts. In someembodiments, a viewer may select an initial layout template, or changelayout templates through the icon 233. The icons 234-237 may enable aviewer to step through steps taken to adjust a medical image. Forexample, assuming the medical image 212 is selected, the icon 234 mayenable the viewer to return to the initial, unadjusted state of medicalimage 234; the icon 235 may enable the viewer to return to one stepprior to the current adjusted state (e.g., return to the previous zoomlevel, or decrease the brightness level); the icon 236 may enable theviewer step forward to a next step in the adjusted step; and the icon237 may enable the viewer to return to final adjusted state when thesnapshot was saved (in such an embodiment, it is assumed that in orderto use the icons 236-237, one or more of the icons 234-235 werepreviously used by the viewer).

The icon 238 may represent access to one or more snapshot features suchas saving the state of the layout (e.g., generating a snapshot), namingthe snapshot (the particular state) and/or assigning the snapshot (orparticular state) to a specified collection. The icon 239 may enable thecreator, or viewer, to lock the user interactive display screen 210 suchthat no adjustments can be made to one or more display areas of thecurrent saved state unless the user interactive display screen 210 isunlocked (e.g., via a password). The icon 240 may represent access to ahelp guide or a settings menu.

The state in which the user interactive display screen 210 is opened maybe a configurable setting. For example, a user may configure the displaycontrol logic, (discussed below), to render the medical compilation(e.g., the study) at a predefined state when the medical compilation isselected. In one embodiment, the latest saved state may be automaticallyrendered when the medical compilation is selected. In a secondembodiment, the first saved state may be automatically rendered when themedical compilation is selected.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary layout template selection screen thatlists potential layout templates that are selectable by a user for userinteractive display screen generation is shown. The display screen 300includes at least the history display area 220 and the icons 230-240 asdiscussed in FIG. 2. Additionally, the display screen 300 includes alayout templates display screen 310 that includes one or more layouttemplates that a user may select while creating a layout, which is inturn saved as a snapshot (or state thereof).

For example, the layout templates display screen 310 includes layouttemplates 311-316. Each of the layout templates 311-316 includes avaried layout for one or more medical images, notes, records, or otherinformation or data that may be relevant to a doctor's examination orreview. In one embodiment, a user may have obtained a first piece ofdata (e.g., a first medical image) that the doctor wishes to comparewith a second medical image that will be taken in the near future aswell as notes regarding both medical images. The doctor may select alayout template, for example the layout template 316, in order to importthe first medical image and notes pertaining to the first medical image.Subsequently, when the second medical image is obtained, the doctor mayimport the second medical image into the layout template 316 as well asnotes pertaining to the second medical image. Therefore, selection of alayout template 311-316 allows a doctor, nurse and/or medical technicianto easily place medical data into a layout that promotes ease ofviewing, and that can be saved as a snapshot or a state thereof forfuture reference.

Additionally, display control logic, discussed below, may include logicfor generating templates based on a user creating one or more templates.In one embodiment, a user may alter a layout template to include one ormore additional display areas, or remove one or more display areas. Forexample, a user may select the layout template 311 and upon attemptingto import a fourth piece of medical data, the control display logic mayimport the fourth piece of medical data into a fourth display area,splitting one display area into two, or condensing the current displayareas and adding a fourth display area. Upon altering a layout template,the display control logic may add the newly created layout to the layouttemplates of display area 310. In another embodiment, the user may beprompted as to whether the altered layout is to be added to the layouttemplates of the display area 310.

II. Accessing Snapshots from a Home Screen

Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary display screen that illustrates aworklists display area, a collections display area and a listing ofstudies within a collection is shown. In one embodiment, the displayscreen 400 may represent a “home” screen providing access to a pluralityof studies, worklists, collections and/or or individual snapshots, orstates thereof. Herein, the display screen 400 includes a display area410, a worklists display area 430 and a collections display area 440.

The worklists display area 430 and the collections display area 440recite worklists and collections, respectively. The term “worklist”refers to a rule-based grouping of studies while the term “collection”refers to a grouping of studies manually assembled by a user. Theembodiment in FIG. 4 illustrates three current worklists, “AllPatients,” “Unread Studies,” and “Mammographs Studies.” Therefore, forexample, all studies (e.g., snapshots, medical images, notes, etc.) thathave not been opened may be automatically placed in the worklist titled,“Unread Studies,” based one or more rules. Additionally, for example,the worklist titled, “Unread Studies,” may also include studies thathave not been finalized. With a worklist, a viewer or user is notrequired to manually add data (e.g., a snapshot, a state of a snapshot,a medical image, etc.) to a worklist grouping, instead, logic, stored ona non-transitory computer-readable medium of an electronic apparatuswill automatically add the data to the appropriate worklist. Examples,of the electronic apparatus may include a desktop computer, a tablet, alaptop, a “smart” mobile phone, or a dedicated server. Similarly, thelogic may remove a study from a worklist according to one or more rules(e.g., a study will be removed from the worklist “Unread Studies” whenthe study is opened, assuming a rule of the worklist, “Unread Studies,”is to place all unopened, e.g., unread, studies into the worklist).

In contrast, studies are added to, or removed from, a collection onlywhen done so manually by a user or viewer. It is envisioned that acombination of a worklist and collection grouping may be implementedwherein a user may manually add to, or remove from, the grouping butalso establish rules for automatic addition and removal. Although FIG. 4illustrates only three worklists and three collections, more or lessworklists and/or collections may be provided or created.

As is seen FIG. 4, the studies of “Collection 3” are listed in thedisplay area 410, wherein the exemplary rows 4201-4205 are illustrated.The row 4201 includes headers for each column of the rows 4202-4205. Forexample, the row 4202 may include icons in one or more columns includingthe icon 411 indicating the presence of a snapshot for the correspondingstudy of row 4202, the icon 412 indicating the presence of notes (e.g.,by a nurse or doctor) for the corresponding study of row 4202, the icon413 indicating the presence of a medical record corresponding to thestudy of row 4202. Additionally, a patient name 414 and a patientidentification (ID) 415 corresponding to the study of row 4202 may beincluded. Furthermore, more or less columns and/or rows may be presentin the display area 410 than are illustrated in FIG. 4. In oneembodiment, the icon 411 may include an icon indicating a number ofstates available in the snapshot (e.g., as was discussed with thesnapshots 221 and 222 in the history display area 220 of FIG. 2).

Referring now to FIG. 5, an exemplary embodiment of a logicalrepresentation of a snapshot generation and display system 500 thatgenerates and renders the displays of FIGS. 2-4 is shown. The snapshotgeneration and display system 500 includes one or more processors 501that are coupled to communication interface logic 510 via a firsttransmission medium 520. The communication interface logic 510 enablescommunications with other electronic devices, specifically enablingcommunication with remote users such as doctors, nurses and/or medicaltechnicians. According to one embodiment of the disclosure,communication interface logic 510 may be implemented as a physicalinterface including one or more ports for wired connectors.Additionally, or in the alternative, communication interface logic 510may be implemented with one or more radio units for supporting wirelesscommunications with other electronic devices.

The processor(s) 501 is further coupled to persistent storage 530 viatransmission medium 525. According to one embodiment of the disclosure,persistent storage 530 may include (a) the layout templates 531, (b) animport logic 532, (c) a snapshot generation logic 533, (d) a displaycontrol logic 534, (e) an images database 535, (f) a notes database 536and (g) a records database 537. The import logic 532 may include logicfor retrieving one or more pieces of information from a storage deviceand importing each of the one or more pieces of information into aseparate display area of a layout template. For example, the pieces ofinformation may include, but are not limited or restricted to, (i)medical images, including x-rays, mammograms, computerized tomography(CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emissiontomography (PET) scan and/or ultrasound imaging, (ii) physician's notesregarding one or more of the medical images and/or (iii) medical recordscorresponding to one or more of the subjects of the one or more medicalimages.

The snapshot generation logic 533 may include logic for saving at leasta first state of the layout template. Saving the first state may includestoring, at least, (i) the one or more pieces of information, and (ii)viewing properties of each of the one or more pieces of information in anon-transitory computer-readable medium. The display control logic 534may include logic for retrieving one of a set of saved states of thelayout template for display according to a selection of a user anddisplaying (e.g., rendering a display screen) the retrieved one of theset of saved states of the layout template. Additionally, the displaycontrol logic 534 may include logic for adjusting one or more of theviewing properties according to instructions by the user (e.g., alteringa brightness level, a zoom level, a contrast level, etc.). Furthermore,the display control logic 534 may include logic for stepping back in aseries of adjustments made to one or more pieces of information includedin a snapshot (or state thereof). In one embodiment, the display controllogic 534 may, according to instructions received via the user selectingvarious icons on the display screen, step back to previous states basedon adjustments to one or more viewing properties.

For example, assume a doctor had increased the brightness level from100% to 150% and then increased the zoom level from to focus on aparticular aspect of the medical image before saving the state of thelayout as a first state of a snapshot and closed the display screen.Upon opening the first state of the snapshot, the doctor (or anotheruser) would see the medical image at a brightness level of 150% and atthe increased zoom level focusing on the particular aspect of themedical image. The doctor may then step back to previous states based onthe adjustments to the medical image that were previously made.Therefore, the doctor may step back to a normal zoom level andsubsequently step back to a brightness level of 100% (e.g., by selectingicon 235 of FIG. 2, for example). Additionally, the doctor may be ableto return to the initial state of the medical image (e.g., by selectingicon 234 of FIG. 2, for example), step forward, assuming a step back hasbeen taken (e.g., by selecting icon 236 of FIG. 2, for example) and/orstep forward to the state when the first state was saved (e.g., byselecting icon 237 of FIG. 2, for example). Of course, when implementedas hardware, one or more of these logic units could be implementedseparately from each other.

The images database 535, the notes database 536 and the records database537 may comprise a single non-transitory computer-readable mediumstorage device or may each be a separate non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storage device. In one embodiment, each of thedatabases 535-537 may take the form of a hash table on a singlenon-transitory computer-readable medium storage device. The imagesdatabase 535 stores medical images that a user may import into a displayarea of a layout template. The notes database 536 stores notes recordedby a doctor, nurse, medical technician, etc., that a user may importinto a display area of a layout template. Finally, the records database537 stores medical records that a user may import into a display area ofa layout template.

a. Snapshot Generation Process

Referring to FIG. 6, a flowchart of an example process of generating asnapshot having a first state and a second state is provided. Each blockillustrated in FIG. 6 represents an operation performed in the method600 of generating a snapshot including a first and second state. Atblock 601, a layout template is selected from one or morepre-constructed templates. For example, referring to FIG. 3, a doctormay select one of the layout templates 311-316 shown in the display area310. Following the selection of a layout template, a first medical imageis imported into a first display area of the layout template (block602). In one embodiment, the doctor may have taken a plurality of x-rayimages of a patient and may select a first x-ray image to import intothe layout template. For example, the first x-ray image may show aninjury of a patient from a first perspective.

At block 603, the doctor may import notes pertaining to the importedfirst medical image in a second display area of the layout template. Forexample, a doctor may have previously recorded notes while taking thex-ray images. Alternatively, or in addition to, the doctor may enternotes in the second display area while examining the first medicalimage.

At block 604, the doctor may adjust one or more viewing properties ofthe first medical image, such as, among others, (i) a brightness leveland/or (ii) a zoom level of the first medical image. In such an example,the doctor may adjust a brightness level in order to more clearlyexamine the first medical image. In addition, the doctor may increasethe zoom level of the medical image in order to focus the examination ona particular portion of the first medical image, e.g., one of aplurality of broken bones suffered during a car accident, wherein theone particular bone will be the focus of a first surgery.

Subsequent to importing the first medical image and notes pertaining tothe first medical image (or recording notes during examination of thefirst medical image) and adjusting one or more viewing properties of thefirst medical image, the doctor may save the state of the layouttemplate as a first state of a snapshot (block 605). As discussed above,the doctor may save the state of the layout template such that (i) thespecific arrangement of medical images, notes, medical records, etc., issaved and (ii) any adjustments made to the viewing properties (e.g.,display attributes) of the medical images are preserved. Therefore, inthis example, the adjustment of the brightness level and the zoom levelwould be persevered. The saved state of the layout template may bereferred to as a first state of the snapshot. As discussed above, it isadvantageous to save a state of the layout because it is difficult for adoctor to recall the exact steps of obtaining the state from which aconclusion regarding an injury or course of treatment was drawn.Additionally, a saved state of a layout is easy to transmit to a seconddoctor and/or a nurse or medical technician located remotely compared totransmitting the medical information and instructions as to obtainingthe desired state of the layout.

After saving the first state of the snapshot, the doctor may import asecond medical image into a third display area of the layout template(block 606). In one embodiment, a second medical image may be a secondperspective of the injury on which the first medical image is focused.Alternatively, the second medical image may be the same x-ray as thefirst medical image with its viewing properties adjusted differentlythan the first medical image, an x-ray of a second injury, an x-ray of asecond patient having undergone a successful surgery to correct theinjury on which the first medical image is focused, etc. Although themethod 600 states that a second medical image is imported into the thirddisplay area of the layout template, the doctor may import medicalrecords of the patient of whom the first medical image depicts or othermedical information (e.g., treatment or surgery protocol, a timeline fortreatment, etc.).

At block 607, the doctor may then save the state of the layout templateas a second state of the snapshot. Having a plurality of saved statesmay be advantageous as a doctor may use a first state to discuss theinjury and potential treatment options with a second doctor or surgeonand use a second state to discuss the injury and potential treatmentoptions with a nurse and the patient as a second doctor or surgeon maynot desire to have the additional information that is shown to a nurseor the patient (or vice versa). For example, a second doctor may notwant to see an x-ray of a successful surgery to correct the injury butmay only need to see one or more perspectives of the actual injury. Inthe same example, a doctor may find it easier to explain the upcomingsurgery to the patient by showing an x-ray of a successful surgery nextto an x-ray of the injury (e.g., to explain that a metal plate will beinserted during surgery and what the result will be).

Any combination of the above features and functionalities may be used inaccordance with one or more embodiments. In the foregoing specification,embodiments have been described with reference to numerous specificdetails that may vary from implementation to implementation. Thespecification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The sole and exclusiveindicator of the scope of the invention, and what is intended by theapplicants to be the scope of the invention, is the literal andequivalent scope of the set of claims that issue from this application,in the specific form in which such claims issue, including anysubsequent correction.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a selection of atemplate, from a plurality of templates available for selection, theselected template comprising at least a first display area and a seconddisplay area; receiving a first selection of: (i) first information and(ii) a first display area of the template; receiving a second selectionof: (i) second information and (ii) a second display area of thetemplate; generating an interactive display of a medical informationcompilation, the interactive display comprising the first information inthe first display area and the second information in the second displayarea; saving a first state of the interactive display, wherein the firststate is persisted and comprises first values of a plurality of displayattributes of the first information and the second information, andwherein the plurality of display attributes of the first information andthe second information are editable and the first information and thesecond information each include one of (i) a medical image, (ii) medicalnotes, or (iii) a medical record; responsive to an editing event,editing a first display attribute of the plurality of displayattributes; and saving a second state of the interactive displayincluding the edited first display attribute of the plurality of displayattributes, wherein the saved second state is persisted; and generatinga second interactive display of the medical information compilationcomprising the first display area and the second display area, andinserting a third area, the third area displaying a representation of asnapshot of the user-selected template, the snapshot including thesaved, persisted first and second states, such that the user can recallfor display each of the first and second states of the snapshot.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the plurality of display attributes includeszoom level, brightness level, and contrast level.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the plurality of display attributes of the first informationinclude one or more successive steps of adjustments to the firstinformation, and wherein each of the one or more steps of adjustments tothe first information are selectable for display.
 4. The method of claim3, wherein the plurality of display attributes of the second informationinclude one or more successive steps of adjustments to the secondinformation, and wherein each of the one or more steps of adjustments tothe second information are selectable for display.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: responsive to an editing event, adding afourth display area to the interactive display, receiving a thirdselection of third information, importing the third information into thefourth display area; and saving, as a third state, display layout,wherein the interactive display includes the fourth display area.
 6. Themethod of claim 5 further comprising: creating a second templateaccording to the interactive display, wherein the second templateincludes the first display area, the second display area, the thirddisplay area, and the fourth display area.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein selecting the template is done through the selection of thetemplate from a plurality of saved templates from a graphic userinterface.